North West College of Nursing Free Diploma in Nursing 2026
Diploma in Nursing R171
The Diploma in Nursing is a 3-year program, that leads to registration with the South African Nursing Council as a General Nurse. The program consists of a theory and clinical component which must be completed in each academic year.
What you will learn
Exit level outcomes (ELO) for the R171 program: Apply knowledge of natural and biological sciences, psychosocial sciences, and pharmacology in the practice of nursing. Provide nursing care throughout the lifespan in various healthcare settings. Render nursing care within a legal and ethical framework. Use and maintain healthcare information systems for nursing practice. Manage the health care unit by implementing the management process. Provide reproductive health care to promote and maintain optimum health of individuals and families.
Studies
- 3 to 4 Year(s)
- Contact
- Applications open 2025-09-18 and close on 2025-10-17
- Enrolments open 2026-01-30 and close on 2026-01-30
Throughout the qualification program formative and summative assessment strategies are used to ensure that exit level and critical cross-field outcomes are achieved and include:
Written assignments, Case Studies, Tests, (or examination equivalent tests) Clinical Assessments, Objective Structured Clinical Examination
Is this for you?
Matriculants, Serving Officers (Auxiliary and Enrolled Nurses), and Community Health Workers who wish to progress into nursing as a career.
Persons in Health and Allied Health Sciences who wish to change direction and move into nursing.
Purpose
This qualification will enable the student to function independently within the multi-disciplinary health care setting as a general who is clinically focused, service orientated, and will apply the knowledge from nursing sciences, whilst rendering holistic nursing care to individuals, families, and communities in a range of health care settings in a culturally sensitive environment. The student will be able to integrate knowledge and skills through experiential learning exposure, implement care based on best practice guidelines, and evaluate health outcomes at community, primary, and secondary health care levels. A General nurse will be able to apply knowledge and understanding of the importance of nursing dynamics to execute her practice within the ethical and legal framework of her profession whilst utilizing technology appropriately for assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of health care and service delivery thus fostering communication.
Curriculum
Level 1
Compulsory Course(s)
The following courses are compulsory to complete your level.Basic Nursing Science
32Basic Nursing Science is a core module offered in the first year; the first semester of the program that will enable the student to identify and address basic human needs that impact the health of health care users.Basic Nursing Science
24Basic Nursing Science is a core module offered in the first year; the second semester of the program that will enable the student to identify and address basic human needs that impact the health of health care users.Foundations and Legislations of Nursing
8This module is a core module offered in the first semester of the program that will enable the student to reflect on the history of nursing and thus render nursing care professionally.Natural and Biological Science
8This module is a fundamental module offered in the first semester of the program and it forms the basis for understanding the structure and functioning of the human body. Natural and biological Science is one of the major building blocks of the health care sciences. This module will cover an introduction to anatomy and physiology, microbiology, biochemistry, biophysics, musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, lymphatic, and immune systems.Natural and Biological Science
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8This module is a fundamental module offered in the second semester of the program and it forms the basis for understanding the structure and functioning of the human body. Natural and biological Science is one of the major building blocks of the health care sciences. This module will cover gastrointestinal, reproductive, urinary, endocrine, and nervous & special senses.Primary Health Care Approach
16This module is a core module offered in the first semester of the program that will enable the student to identify and address health care needs across the life- span, families, groups, and communities in rural and urban settings through a primary healthcare approach.Primary Health Care Approach
16This module is a core module offered in the semester of the program that will enable the student to understand factors affecting health, environmental health and relevant legislative aspect, district health systems (PHC outreach teams), home-based care, health education, universal precautions and integrated management of child illness (IMCI) household components.Applied Psycho-Social Science
8This module is a fundamental module offered in the second semester of the program and it forms the basis for understanding the development of psycho-physiologic human experiences and applying this knowledge in promoting the development of individuals in all health care settings, and cultural practices and development of social structures to provide for physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs of patients and facilitate transcultural nursing.Read More
Level 2
Compulsory Course(s)
The following courses are compulsory to complete your level.Communicable disease : Adult
24Communicable diseases affecting adults, Drug management of communicable diseases according to EDL, Non – drugs management of communicable diseases, Classification of communicable diseases of adults according to causative organisms, transmission, and pathophysiology, and Legal aspects relating to communicable diseases.Communicable disease: Child
32Effects of various parasites and microbes (pathogenic and non-pathogenic), control and prevention of cross-infection to protect self, individuals, families, and communities. Identify and comprehensively manage and control prevalent communicable diseases according to national and provincial policies.Introduction to mental health
8Related terminology and Related legislation, Common myths related to mental illness, Clarification of values, Characteristic differences between mental health and mental illness, Factors contributing to mental illness, and mental health promotion strategies.Non-Communicable disease: Adult
24Cardiovascular disorders, Respiratory disorders, Endocrine & Metabolic, musculoskeletal & Auto-Immune disorders, Nervous, Dermatology and ENT, and eye disorders, Genito-Urinary disorders, and Gastrointestinal tract disorders.Non-Communicable disease : Adult
8Cardiovascular disorders, Respiratory disorders, Endocrine & Metabolic, musculoskeletal & Auto-Immune disorders, Nervous, Dermatology and ENT, and eye disorders, Genito-Urinary disorders, and Gastrointestinal tract disorders.Non-Communicable disease: Child
16Cardiovascular diseases, Respiratory diseases, Endocrine & Metabolic, musculoskeletal, Nervous, Dermatology and ENT and eye, Genitourinary, Gastrointestinal.Pharmacology for Nurses
8Pharmacology comprises the pharmaco- genesis, Kinetics, dynamics, and therapy to administer and control medication safely.Read More
Level 3
Compulsory Course(s)
The following courses are compulsory to complete your level.Community Based Nursing
16Manage health care users in a Primary Health Care setting using basic Primary, Health Care skills. Components of Primary Health Care (PHC), Strategies of implementing PHC, Primary medical or curative care (Principles of history taking, techniques of physical assessment, general physical assessment).Community Engagement and Development
24Community development, Community participation, Community involvement, Policies, Governmental and non – governmental institutions, and Community survey.Healthcare Information Systems
16This is a core module offered in the third year consisting of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of health care and service delivery thus fostering communication.Health Unit Management
32Methods of administering nursing, Control in the nursing unit, Unit teaching, and learning, and Personnel management.Personal and Professional Development
16Ethical principles and apply them in solving ethical dilemmas in health care settings, Philosophy of nursing and its impact on personal philosophy, Application of ethical, legal, and professional accountability when rendering patient/client care. (incl. criteria of a profession and Professional organizations and their impact on personal/professional growth.Reproductive Health Care
16This is a core module consisting of Reproductive health, HAST( HIV & AIDS, STI, TB), Male Medical Circumcision (MMC), and Pap Smears.Read More
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